Author Topic: College build '78 cb550 cafe. Creating the Old (Read 27217 times)

Strangexj86 · « **Reply #75 on:** March 07, 2013, 07:56:07 PM »

Thanks, im really glad i painted them

And yeah, working on old corroded stuff can get really tiresome. Have you tried using a handheld impact driver? Anything that was stuck or being a pain I just soaked it with penetrating oil, let it sit for about a day or so, then go at it with a handheld impact driver. Worked like a charm every time.

I'm not a huge fan of using a pneumatic impact wrench on stuff like exhaust bolts because it has the very high possibility of breaking the stud. I learned the hard way a few times. It sucked. They have the impact driver at Schucks for like $10.

laminaytrap · « **Reply #76 on:** March 07, 2013, 08:27:04 PM »

Yeah I have one in my real toolbox at home, but i'm working with a few limitations here. It's always done the job for me too, but i couldn't justify buying another one for $50 this evening at CT, and i was worried about getting a good hammer throw with the front end in the way, and i wanted to get the exhaust off before i put it on blocks

we'll see.

Just checked at princess auto (HF) and they've got one on sale for $6, maybe i'll hit that up tomorrow.

Strangexj86 · « **Reply #77 on:** March 07, 2013, 08:36:41 PM »

Yeah I would do that. Checked out your build btw. You got some skills on CAD. Wish I could do that stuff so I could use the school's Water jet machines and CNC machines. You shoudl be catching up pretty soon. All about spare time i guess. Bummer about that rx-7. I would be so frustrated.

So you're going mono-shock then?

laminaytrap · « **Reply #78 on:** March 07, 2013, 08:45:51 PM »

ha ha we're kind of clogging your build thread with idle chatter, but yes. I think the shock I picked up today fits the bill, and I just got word that our shop is getting a 6'*6' waterjetter in two weeks, so maybe some wave rotors on the way, and i won't have to drill the speed holes! If I can do as i wish there's going to be lots of custom parts in this thing. As time and money allows i want to focus on the motor, front-end, monoshock, and dual carb setup. If there's more time and money i'll do gauges, knee dents, swap wheels, headlight, charging system, ignition, cams, carbon fenders, rearsets, etc.

Keep up on the good work over there, I'm definitely going to be following your build, and anything I draw up for fabrication I'll try to make available to anyone that wants it, assuming it ends up working...

Strangexj86 · « **Reply #79 on:** March 08, 2013, 03:46:02 AM »

complete reassembled carbs. I love 'em. Should have gone to bed 3 hours ago but I couldn't help myself but to stay up and finish them.

getting mounted on the bike today.

Strangexj86 · « **Reply #80 on:** March 08, 2013, 04:51:37 PM »

got the carbs mounted today. Finally!

I love the look of the copper against the frame.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #81 on:** March 09, 2013, 07:17:44 AM »

Look they just rolled off the assembly line.

cheftuskey121 · « **Reply #82 on:** March 09, 2013, 07:55:24 AM »

holy moly this looks great. you have definitely inspired me to paint my carbs, as I am painting my engine. I don't want my carbs to look out of place. outstanding!

Strangexj86 · « **Reply #83 on:** March 09, 2013, 09:52:58 AM »

thanks! Glad I could inspire you! And yeah, if you have a painted engine, there's no way you can go without painting your carbs. just a heads up, i am using the DupliColor Cast aluminum engine enamel paint. Little tricky to spray because it is so thin, but it turns out great.

Strangexj86 · « **Reply #84 on:** March 10, 2013, 03:25:27 AM »

soo... I was planning on leaving today for a spring break ski trip but my roommate decided the brake pads on his car needed to be replaced first. Long story short, once gouged caliper cylinder, and one stripped bleeder screw, and we're stuck. Tried tapping with a bigger size, yada yada yada no success. Gonna try a different McGuyver style fix tomorrow.

Anyways, the car setback gave me some time to work on the bike. So I shaped the seat hump. I tried copying the lines of the tank.

Strangexj86 · « **Reply #85 on:** March 12, 2013, 02:54:55 AM »

started fiberglassing yesterday. Here's the first two pictures. I went about this in a little different way. Instead of fiberglassing the seatpan portion and the hump together, I glassed the hump section first to make sure it had the right placement on the hoop. Then I pulled masking tape really tight across the frame from left to right. This gave me a nice flat surface to lay my seat pan section over. So then I positioned the rear hump, fastened it to the frame with tape, and then layed a section of fiberglass down from the tank back to the hump. Oh and I made a little foam section at the base of the tank so the seat pan had a nice transition.

I made a bunch more progress today. Cut the first layer how i wanted the finished size to be, reshaped the transition to the tank, chopped and lowered the channel for the wiring, and layed down two coats of fg on the inside of the hump.

Forgot to snap some pictures though, so I'll post those tomorrow.

Viktor.J · « **Reply #86 on:** March 12, 2013, 03:58:20 AM »

Really dig the "cowl/hump". Not to big or sharp as many others. more like a GB500 !

Looks great !

Tews19 · « **Reply #87 on:** March 12, 2013, 06:44:54 AM »

Quote from: Viktor.J on March 12, 2013, 03:58:20 AM

Really dig the "cowl/hump". Not to big or sharp as many others. more like a GB500 !

Looks great !

Vic, happen to have a pic of your GB500?

industrial1 · « **Reply #88 on:** March 12, 2013, 07:53:04 PM »

I second the hump. The size and shape is just right along with the shape.

Strangexj86 · « **Reply #89 on:** March 12, 2013, 09:49:09 PM »

thanks. I wanted to follow the lines of the tank as best i could. I thikn it turned out pretty well. Today was a pain. I wish i had a palm sander.

i applied the first layer of bondo and had it extend lower than the actual size of the hump so i could cut it off to give it a nice straight edge. This worked out very well. Took about 2-3 coats of bondo and then two portions of minor touch up.

chopped the channel and reformed the transition to the tank. still have to cut the excess off.

ANd here it is on the bike. Sanding Sanding Sanding!

Viktor.J · « **Reply #90 on:** March 13, 2013, 12:58:28 AM »

Quote from: Tews19 on March 12, 2013, 06:44:54 AM

Vic, happen to have a pic of your GB500?

I don't have a GB500, I have a cb750

but this is how they look like

Quote from: Strangexj86 on March 12, 2013, 09:49:09 PM

thanks. I wanted to follow the lines of the tank as best i could. I thikn it turned out pretty well. Today was a pain. I wish i had a palm sander.

i applied the first layer of bondo and had it extend lower than the actual size of the hump so i could cut it off to give it a nice straight edge. This worked out very well. Took about 2-3 coats of bondo and then two portions of minor touch up.

ANd here it is on the bike. Sanding Sanding Sanding!

That looks superb. For a while ago I thought of doing a fiber hump, but then came to senses

But when I see this Im starting to rethink

iron_worker · « **Reply #91 on:** March 13, 2013, 08:00:59 AM »

Nice work on the carbs. I recently did the same thing with mine and I can attest to how much work it is for such a seemingly small part!

IW

Strangexj86 · « **Reply #92 on:** March 14, 2013, 10:57:07 AM »

Thanks! And yeah it was a ton of tedious work to disassemble, clean, paint, copper plate, and reassemble for a part you can hardly see when the bike is fully reassemble. It's just nice to know that it's there.

Got my rearsets ordered from oldschoolspeed.com (durgam_k) on dtt. Lookin forward to them showing up in the mail.

laminaytrap · « **Reply #93 on:** March 15, 2013, 12:17:23 PM »

haha, makes me feel less bad, I kindof gave up on custom rearsets too! Too much work for what they're worth.

Strangexj86 · « **Reply #94 on:** March 15, 2013, 10:27:23 PM »

haha yeah, I would have kept going with them, but after seeing the oldschoolspeed rear sets, I couldn't resist, especially for the price.

Strangexj86 · « **Reply #95 on:** March 15, 2013, 11:56:12 PM »

Strangexj86 · « **Reply #96 on:** March 15, 2013, 11:59:26 PM »

Quote from: Viktor.J on March 13, 2013, 12:58:28 AM

That looks superb. For a while ago I thought of doing a fiber hump, but then came to senses But when I see this Im starting to rethink

You totally should. Its not taht hard, just time consuming. The end result will be totally worth it.

Strangexj86 · « **Reply #97 on:** March 17, 2013, 10:53:29 AM »

Back from vacation. Sun Valley and Jackson hole were a great time!

I'm back home and will be finishing up the seat today. Picked up some camping sleeping pad and will be using that for my seat foam.

Can't decide if I'm going to try and stich the seat up myself or look for an upholstery shop around town.

Also, I've been thinking of going with a faux patina for my tank...

mono · « **Reply #98 on:** March 17, 2013, 12:24:50 PM »

Awesome build so far! I'm really impressed by all the little details you're putting into it, especially that through-frame wiring. I'm excited to see how it all comes together.

Love the seat, too. I'll be tackling one myself once the weather gets warm enough here. I think I'll just get a palm sander now, though lol.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

Strangexj86 · « **Reply #99 on:** March 18, 2013, 12:18:10 AM »

The frame-through wiring was a must from the beginning. After this seat is done I'll be really close to finishing.

Thanks for the support. I'm fortunate enough to have an inside shop. My brother brought my palm sander from home so I"ll be able to use that now. Tacked the rest of the seat today. seat pan, mounting, and first layer of foam.

I think I'll do a nice full write up on how I made this seat in a seperate thrad, but here's the update for now.

Covered the existing pan with tape and wax to make the actual sat pan the foam and leather will attach to.

So to mount the new "seat pans" I drilled some holes through both pans and into the sheet metal I fabbed up a while ago. I was going to use regular steel sheet metal but I didnt have any so I used my copper. Then I JB welded the heads of the bolts and layed another layer of fiberglass over the whole thing.

the underside.

Studs on the underside of the actual seat pan

First layer of foam.

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Author Topic: College build '78 cb550 cafe. Creating the Old (Read 27217 times)